Discover how North America's oldest sport evolved from sacred ceremony to modern competition
Lacrosse has its origins in a tribal game played by eastern Woodlands Native Americans and by some Plains Indians tribes in what is now the United States of America and Canada. The game has been modernized extensively by European immigrants to create its current collegiate and professional form.
The game was extensively modified by European colonizers to North America to create its current form. Indigenous people across the continent played the game with regional variations. Some versions involved hundreds of players on fields that could span several miles, with games lasting from sunrise to sunset or even over multiple days.
"Lacrosse is viewed by the Haudenosaunee as 'The Creator's Game' – a gift to be used for enjoyment and in ceremonies."
Traditional games could involve anywhere from 100 to over 1,000 men from rival villages or nations, creating spectacles of enormous scale.
Playing fields stretched from 500 yards to several miles, with goals placed at opposite ends marked by trees or large rocks.
Games could last from sunup to sundown, or even continue over two or three days with breaks for rest and ceremonial activities.
Lacrosse was often played as a medicine game to give thanks to the Creator or to heal the sick. The game itself was seen as having therapeutic and spiritual power.
Tribes and nations would settle disputes and conflicts through lacrosse matches rather than warfare, making it a tool for peace and diplomacy.
The game prepared young men for war, developing strength, stamina, agility, and strategic thinking essential for warriors.
Games were accompanied by rituals, songs, dances, and prayers. Players would prepare spiritually before matches through fasting and ceremonies.
European colonists first documented witnessing lacrosse in the 1630s. French Jesuit missionary Jean de Brébeuf saw Huron Indians play the game and was the first to write about it. He called it "la crosse" because the stick reminded him of a bishop's crosier.
Jean de Brébeuf documents the game being played by Huron people
Montreal Lacrosse Club founded, establishing formal rules
Lacrosse featured as an Olympic sport in St. Louis and London
Growth into collegiate athletics, professional leagues, and international competition
The game was standardized with the formation of lacrosse clubs and organizations in Canada and the United States during the 1800s. Today, lacrosse is played worldwide while Indigenous communities continue to honor its sacred origins.